tragic predictable accident

[T Legg]

I don't think anyone's post absolved the rider from blame. The common observation of everyone was that gross excessive speed was involved That is why I termed the title a predictable accident. A car shouldn't have to deal with a guided missle coming down the road but it is all of our responsibility not to pull out if we are not certain the path is clear. Responsibility aside the faster and crazier we ride the more likely it will be someone makes a mistake so I agree if we choose to ride fast it should be done in a way that doesn't infringe on other drivers rights to drive at their comfort levels. Most of us have at some point  made a bad decision and will again so it's worth looking at what might have been done at the point the bad decision was realized .It's possible if the bike had veered right with out panic braking he could have survived his mistake.It may have already been inevitable at that point.

[giantkiller]

Back when I was young. And a lot more stupid than I am now.
I remember the first time I over took a car at 155+. Thought I should probably move over. And I almost Hit the car in the back. Things happen so fast I doubt he had any time to make any decisions.

[FJ Flyer]

I agree it's tragic and unnecessary, but are we, as a community of motorcycle-riding online friends,  really thinking about coming down on the side of "it was not the motorcycle rider's fault even if he was going twice as fast as traffic normally goes there?"

Sorry, but I cannot agree.

If you are doing something very unusual, you don't have the right to expect the rest of the world to accommodate you and yield accordingly. That means "going twice as fast as everyone else," and it means "passing slower traffic in a no-passing zone," and it means "using a literbike's unbelievable acceleration to jump from rest to 60+ mph in a frantic 3-second burst of full throttle."(*) If you are doing any of those things, you don't have a right to expect the right-of-way from normal traffic. It's not their job to be on the lookout for anybody doing that; theire responsibility is to look out for the kinds of things normal traffic normally does.

......

Any time you do something normal traffic cannot reasonably predict someone doing, you forfeit your right of way. Nobody can be expected to yield to the mere possibility that there MIGHT be a 100 mph motorcycle coming down the road.

Bill, very good points.  I've been thinking more and more about these very issues as traffic gets increasingly worse on my commute and my frustration escalates.  I need to very deliberately notch it back and take a couple deep breaths. Maybe I'm just getting old.  But, like the saying goes about pilots....there are old pilots, and bold pilots, but no old, bold pilots.

[PaulG]

Most of us have at some point  made a bad decision and will again...

Wha-Wha-Whaaaat???     I guess that explains the chronic pain in my neck/shoulders/back/hips.

... so it's worth looking at what might have been done at the point the bad decision was realized...

Bin der dun dat.  It's so depressing     Nothing like some Freudian navel gazing to put a damper on things.   

[Mike Ramos]

Pursuant to this discussion, here is a post from several years ago of a West Coast Rally.  I was following along other riders when I got stuck behind slower vehicles.  The main group had gotten far ahead so when I was able to get around the slower traffic, attempting to catch group I was motoring right along when a car pulled out in front of me.
 
Because I was traveling so fast, I doubt if the car's driver even saw me, if he did he assumed I was much farther away that I was – fortunately he turned into his lane and stayed there allowing me to pass him without incident.  If there had been negative consequences the driver most certainly was NOT at fault.

At the time on the Forum, there was a series of posts about dangerous automobile drivers.  There were mentions of riders pounding on windows of cars and other such behavior.  

I am of the opinion the vast majority of car vs. motorcycle incidents are accidental.  If the rider is going to get incensed at a particular driver to such a degree he is concentrating solely on the offender, other dangers are still all around and must constantly and continuously be addressed or his safety will be compromised.
 
Thus I posted at the time the following:

Towards the end of the video [at 5:10], immediately after cresting a rise, a sedan pulls out in front of me.  Luck was with me as a serious situation was avoided!  It should be noted that I did not break off his mirror as I went by, nor did I stop at the traffic light and pound on the window; even after stopping in town there was no screaming and hollering at the hapless fellow (being fearful there would be no one to come & save me from myself)...  No, I just closed my eyes and hoped for a favorable outcome, which fortunately occurred...

As Bill Rockoff eloquently stated above: Any time you do something normal traffic cannot reasonably predict someone doing, you forfeit your right of way. Nobody can be expected to yield to the mere possibility that there MIGHT be a 100 mph motorcycle coming down the road.

Here's the video, the car enters the roadway at 5:10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eK7WZb1xP4&feature=youtu.be

Ride safe...

Midget

[Motofun]

Many years ago I was riding on a narrow local road when a PU truck in the opposite lane cut left, right in front of me, and pulled into his driveway.  No signal, no indication of anything.  I had to swerve so heavy to the left that I scraped the footpeg and missed his rear bumper by a few inches with my right leg.  I pulled over, took off my helmet, and ran towards the guy as he was entering his front door.  He had no idea of what what about to happen.  I was half way there when I finally realized that If I attacked him I would be at fault of assault and battery.  Turns out he was probably drunk as the local old guys would go to the skeet club (a speak easy) on Saturday morning and fill up on 50 cent Budweisers.
Moral of the story?  They're all out to kill you so beware....Oh, and don't take it personally.

[T Legg]

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) - The NHP has released details from its investigation into a fatal motorcycle crash on January 30, 2020.

The NHP says a motorcycle was speeding southbound on S. Virginia, traveling at more than 100 MPH and making several rapid lane changes.

Investigators say the driver of a Hyundai Kona turned to go north on S. Virginia, but the driver could not see the motorcycle because of its lane changes and high rate of speed.

The motorcycle rider tried to brake, causing the bike to overturn, go airborne, and eject the drive. Both the motorcycle and the driver hit the left side of the Hyundai causing it to turn clockwise and overturn.

The motorcyclist, Anthony Barrera, 24, of Reno was declared dead on the scene.

The NHP says the driver of the Hyundai was not at fault and will not face any citations.